By Kiran Baug, founder of DiscoverSight.
The best apps for blind and visually impaired people in 2026 are AI camera apps that read and describe what is in front of you, the screen readers built into your phone, navigation apps and reading apps. If you only install a few, start with Be My Eyes, Seeing AI, Google Lookout (Android), Google Maps, and the screen reader on your phone: VoiceOver on iPhone or TalkBack on Android.
This list has 32 apps. About 20 are the essentials that blind users recommend most: Be My Eyes, Seeing AI, Envision AI, Google Lookout, Supersense, TapTapSee, Aira, Google Gemini and Ray-Ban Meta glasses for camera and visual help; VoiceOver, TalkBack, Siri and Gemini or Google Assistant, which are built in; Google Maps, Moovit, Lazarillo, BlindSquare, VoiceVista and Soundscape Community for getting around; and Voice Dream Reader and Bookshare Reader for reading. The rest are specialist apps for reading, writing, low vision or readers in particular countries. Platforms and prices change often, so confirm in your app store before you pay.
Built-in screen readers and voice assistants
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is the screen reader built into iPhone, iPad and Mac. It speaks what is on the screen and lets you control the device by touch: a single tap selects an item, a double tap activates it, and swipes move between items. It works with Apple’s own apps and with any app that follows accessibility guidelines.
Availability: iOS. Price: free, built into iPhone and iPad. Read more: tips for using VoiceOver on iPhone. Official page: Apple accessibility features.
My experience: My main phone is an iPhone, and I use VoiceOver every day.
TalkBack
TalkBack is the screen reader built into Android. Swipe left or right with one finger to move between items, double-tap to activate, and use two-finger swipes to scroll. You can change speech rate, pitch and verbosity in its settings, and menus differ slightly between Pixel, Samsung and other makers.
Availability: Android. Price: free, built into Android. New to screen readers? See how long it takes to learn a screen reader. Official page: TalkBack setup guide.
My experience: I am also a heavy Android user, so I use TalkBack regularly.
Google Assistant (being replaced by Gemini)
Google Assistant is a virtual assistant that is activated by saying “Hey Google.” It employs voice commands to assist with tasks like setting reminders, making phone calls, and managing smart home devices, allowing blind and visually impaired individuals to engage with their devices without the need for a touch screen. Google began replacing Assistant with Gemini on Android phones from September 2026, so on newer phones “Hey Google” opens Gemini, which does the same jobs and more.
Availability: Android, with Gemini replacing it on supported phones. Price: free. Prefer Amazon? See Alexa voice commands every blind person should know.
Siri
Siri is Apple’s voice assistant. It can set reminders, make calls, send messages, control smart home devices and turn VoiceOver on or off, so many tasks need no touch at all. Accessibility settings let you make Siri speak every response and wait longer for you to finish speaking.
Availability: iOS. Price: free, built into Apple devices. Read more: using Siri and VoiceOver together.
Navigation and travel apps
Google Maps
Google Maps is a well-known application that provides accurate instructions for walking, driving, and taking public transportation. The accessibility capabilities of the software, as well as voice-guided directions, make it a perfect tool for visually impaired users. The app also provides information on nearby areas of interest, which can assist users in finding what they’re looking for.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free. Official page: Google Maps.
My experience: I use an iPhone and have tried Apple Maps, but I find Google Maps more reliable for walking navigation, so it is my first choice.
Moovit
Moovit provides real-time public transportation information and instructions, which is especially helpful for persons who are blind or visually impaired and rely on public transportation to move around. To assist users in exploring new regions, the software gives voice-guided walking directions.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free, with an optional paid Moovit+ subscription. Official page: App Store listing.
BlindSquare
BlindSquare is an iOS navigation software that uses GPS technology to provide detailed descriptions of your surroundings. It indicates local points of interest, intersections, and street crossings. BlindSquare can also be used in conjunction with popular navigation apps such as Google Maps to provide turn-by-turn directions.
Availability: iOS. Price: $39.99 on the App Store, with optional paid voice command credits. Read more: top navigation and travel apps for the blind. Official page: App Store listing.
Lazarillo
Lazarillo is a GPS app for blind and low vision users. It lets you explore the world around you, hear nearby places and set up walking routes.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free on iPhone. Compare it with other navigation and travel apps for the blind. Official page: App Store listing.
VoiceVista
VoiceVista is an iPhone navigation app for blind and low vision users. It uses spatial audio and your location to help you build a mental map of your surroundings and follow routes. It is built on Microsoft’s discontinued open-source Soundscape project.
Availability: iOS. Price: free, with optional sponsorship purchases. Official page: App Store listing.
Soundscape Community
Soundscape Community is a free iPhone navigation app that places 3D audio cues around you, so points of interest, roads and parks seem to come from where they are. You can set audio beacons to a destination, use Street Preview to explore streets before you go, and create or share markers and routes. It is a community-maintained successor to Microsoft’s discontinued Soundscape. Availability: iOS. Price: free. Official page: App Store listing.
Reading, writing and study apps
Learning Ally
Learning Ally is an audiobook library for students who are blind, have low vision or have a print disability such as dyslexia. It offers human-narrated textbooks and literature with adjustable playback speed.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: the app is free, but a Learning Ally membership is required. Official page: App Store listing.
Voice Dream Reader
Voice Dream Reader is an app for blind and visually impaired people that provides a customizable text-to-speech reader to help them read. It has configurable reading speed, voice, and pronunciation, as well as font and color options to improve readability. To aid discover certain sections of a text, navigation tools such as headings and page numbers are added. The app also interfaces with other services, allowing users to import documents from cloud services and bookmark web pages for later viewing.
Availability: iOS (Android users can try Legere Reader, which grew out of the same app). Price: free to download, with optional paid voices and subscriptions. Read more: reading apps for blind and visually impaired people. Official page: App Store listing.
My experience: Voice Dream Reader is one of the reading apps I keep coming back to. It works well with VoiceOver, and I use its word highlighting, speed control and bookmarks.
Voice Dream Writer
Voice Dream Writer is an accessible writing app that includes features like dictation and word prediction, making it a helpful tool for blind and visually impaired people. Its font modification features, spelling checker, dictionary, and thesaurus all help with writing. The app, which is compatible with screen readers, allows users to write with ease, increasing writing skills for all.
Availability: iOS. Price: free. Official page: App Store listing.
Bookshare
Bookshare Reader is the free app for reading books from your Bookshare library. It runs in a web browser on computers and Chromebooks and on iOS and Android, and there is also an Alexa version. You need a Bookshare membership to download books.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: the Bookshare Reader app is free, but you need a Bookshare membership to download books. See also reading apps for blind and visually impaired people. Official page: Bookshare Reader page.
Talking Typer
Talking Typer is an app from the American Printing House for the Blind that teaches typing with speech and audio feedback.
Availability: iOS. Price: free. Official page: App Store listing.
BARD Mobile
BARD Mobile is the app for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled in the United States. It gives enrolled members free audio and braille reading materials, and it is open to residents of the US and American citizens living abroad who cannot read regular print.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free, but you must be enrolled with the US National Library Service. Official page: App Store listing.
Dolphin EasyReader
Dolphin EasyReader is a reading app for books, newspapers and library collections in accessible formats. It reads aloud with text-to-speech, lets you change text size and colours, and connects to many accessible book libraries.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free, with an optional Premium subscription that adds syncing across devices and removes download limits. Official page: Dolphin website.
Libby by OverDrive
Libby is OverDrive’s app for borrowing e-books and audiobooks from your public library with a library card. It works with VoiceOver and TalkBack, and you can adjust playback speed for audiobooks.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free, but you need a library card. Official page: App Store listing.
Legere Reader
Legere Reader is an Android reading app for people who face barriers accessing digital text. It combines text-to-speech with synchronised word or line highlighting, display customisation and support for many file formats.
Availability: Android. Price: about C$9.99. Official page: Legere website.
NFB-NEWSLINE
The National Federation of the Blind’s service allows access to newspapers, periodicals, and other publications.
Availability: iOS. Price: free for eligible users in the United States. Official page: App Store listing.
Live visual assistance
These services connect you with a real person who sees through your phone camera and talks you through the task, either a trained professional or a volunteer.
Aira
Aira is a remote visual interpreting service. You connect by video call with a trained visual interpreter who can help you read, find your way or complete a task. The Aira Explorer app is available on the App Store and Google Play.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: paid plans, with some free calls at partner locations and a few free minutes for new users. Official page: Aira website.
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes connects blind and low vision users with sighted volunteers by live video call, for tasks such as reading a label or finding an object. The app also includes Be My AI, an AI assistant that answers questions about images, and a service directory that links you to companies for product support.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free. Official page: App Store listing.
My experience: It is the app I reach for when a confusing layout or an unusual object needs another person’s eyes.
AI camera and text recognition apps
For a deeper look at how each of these works, including limits, privacy and screen reader notes, see our guide to the best AI apps for blind people.
Envision AI
Envision AI uses your phone camera to read text aloud, recognise faces and identify objects, and it can work offline. Envision also makes smart glasses with the same features, sold separately.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free to download on iPhone, with optional paid features. Read more: AI apps for blind and low-vision people. Official page: App Store listing.
Seeing AI
Seeing AI is a free app from Microsoft. It uses your phone camera to read short text and full documents aloud, scan barcodes, identify currency, and describe people, products and scenes. Each task has its own mode, so you choose what the camera does.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free. Read more: best AI apps for describing photos and surroundings. Official page: App Store listing.
My experience: Seeing AI is my first choice for reading signs, menus, boarding passes and other structured text.
Google Gemini
Gemini is Google’s AI assistant, and on Android it is replacing Google Assistant as the phone’s voice assistant. With Gemini Live you can point your phone camera at a scene, a menu or a room and ask follow-up questions about what it sees. It is a general assistant rather than an app built for blind users, so check important details such as medicine labels or prices with a second source.
My experience: Gemini is the one I reach for most when scanning a hotel room, reading a menu at the table and asking follow-up questions about a scene. I use Seeing AI when I want structured text read exactly, and Gemini when I want a broader description.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free to use, with optional paid plans, so check Google for current details. ChatGPT and Claude can do similar jobs. See how blind and low vision users can use ChatGPT. Official page: Gemini website.
SuperVision+
SuperVision+ Magnifier, from Massachusetts Eye and Ear, turns your iPhone or iPad into a magnifier for people with low vision. It steadies highly magnified images, lets you freeze and save snapshots, and has flashlight, focus lock and an inverted black-and-white mode.
Availability: iOS. Price: free. Official page: App Store listing.
Voice Dream Scanner
This software recognizes and reads text from printed things such as books, newspapers, and magazines using optical character recognition (OCR). It can also convert text to audio and supports a wide range of languages.
Availability: iOS. Price: paid, so check the App Store for the current price. Official page: App Store listing.
TapTapSee
TapTapSee identifies everyday objects and colours from a photo and speaks a short description. It is simple to use, but descriptions are brief, so use Seeing AI or Be My AI when you need more detail.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free. Official page: App Store listing.
SuperSense
This application recognizes and reads text from printed materials such as books, signage, and labels using optical character recognition (OCR). It also detects monetary denominations and colors and includes a magnifier. It also has a unique feature called “Scene Description,” which uses artificial intelligence to describe the user’s surroundings, providing information about people, objects, and colors. SuperSense is designed for visually impaired people and is available in a number of languages.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free to download, with an optional premium subscription. Official page: AppleVis listing.
Google Lookout
Google Lookout is an AI-powered app that uses a smartphone camera to recognize objects, text, persons, barcodes, and currencies. It can send out verbal alerts about adjacent objects or obstructions and has multiple modes for different scenarios. It is free to download and use on Android devices, and it is useful for people who have vision impairments or are blind.
Availability: Android. Price: free. Official page: Google announcement.
Google Lens
Google Lens uses your phone camera to identify objects, read and translate text and search for what you point it at. It is not built for blind users, so treat it as a quick helper and use Seeing AI or Google Lookout when you need reliable reading of documents.
Availability: Android, iOS. Price: free. Official page: Google Lens website.
Meta AI glasses (Ray-Ban Meta)
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have a camera and open-ear speakers. With the Be My Eyes app you can start a call to a sighted volunteer by voice command, and the volunteer sees through the glasses camera and talks you through what is in front of you, hands-free. You can switch between the glasses and your phone camera during a call. Be My Eyes lists India among the countries where this works. Availability: works with the Be My Eyes app and Meta AI glasses. Price: paid hardware, so check Meta for current prices. Official page: Meta accessibility page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free app for blind people?
Seeing AI and Be My Eyes are both free and are the two apps most often recommended. Seeing AI uses the camera to read text, documents, barcodes and currency and to describe scenes. Be My Eyes connects you with sighted volunteers and also offers an AI image description feature.
Which app reads text aloud for blind people?
Seeing AI, Envision AI and Google Lookout (Android) read printed text from the camera. For documents and books on your phone, Voice Dream Reader and the Bookshare Reader app read aloud. See AI apps that read text and describe surroundings and reading apps for blind and visually impaired people.
What is the best navigation app for blind people?
It depends on how you travel. BlindSquare and Lazarillo describe your surroundings as you walk, Google Maps gives turn-by-turn directions, and Moovit helps with public transport. See top navigation and travel apps for the blind.
Are there apps for blind people on Android?
Yes. TalkBack is built into Android, and Google Lookout, Seeing AI, Be My Eyes, Lazarillo and Aira all run on Android.
How do blind people use apps on a smartphone?
They use a screen reader, which is VoiceOver on iPhone and TalkBack on Android. It reads out what is on the screen and lets you control the phone by gestures. See tips for using VoiceOver on iPhone.
Which apps help blind people read books?
Bookshare Reader, Voice Dream Reader, Libby, Dolphin EasyReader, Learning Ally, BARD Mobile and NFB-NEWSLINE. Bookshare, Learning Ally, BARD Mobile and NFB-NEWSLINE are mainly for readers in the United States and need membership or eligibility.
This comprehensive list will be updated as new and useful apps for the visually impaired become available. If you know of any apps that should be included, please leave them in the comments.
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